Third in frequency, rank, order, formation, or stage.

Individual entitled to the proceeds of a life insurance policy if no primary or secondary beneficiaries are living when the insured dies. Also called contingent beneficiary or alternate beneficiary .

Health care services requested by a specialist from another specialist (e.g., hand surgeon, neurosurgeon, pediatric endocrinologist, thoracic surgeon, intensive care unit). It usually requires sophisticated technologies located in a teaching hospital or university-affiliated facility that are not available elsewhere (e.g., complex cancer procedures, transplants, neonatal intensive care).

Medical facility that receives referred patients from primary and secondary care levels because of severe injury or illness. It provides tests, treatments, and procedures that are not available elsewhere. Also called tertiary care facility or tertiary care hospital .

Third-party payer that is responsible for reimbursement of an insurance claim after the primary and secondary payers have paid their share.